Draft-rigging for cars



(No Model.)

G. L. POTTER. DRAFT RIGGING FOR CARS.

Patented May 23, 1893.

INVEI VTOR: 4,4 Q/ QZZ,

WITNESSES %AM? M7, QM

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. POTTER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

DRAFT-RIGGING FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,026, dated May 23,1893.

Application filed February 21. 1893. Serial No. 463,241. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. POTTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State of Indiana,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Draft Rigging, ofwhich the following is a true and exact description, reference being hadto the drawings which accompany it and form part of this specification.

My invention relates to the draft rigging of railway cars and has forits object to provide a simple and readily accessible device forsecuring the rear ends of the tail straps in draft riggings of theGraham type.

My invention will be best understood as explained in connection with thedrawings in which- Figure 1, is a central longitudinal section through aGraham draft rigging; Fig. 2, an enlarged view on the same section ofthe rear ends of the tail straps and of the bolt which secures themtogether. Fig. 3, is an elevation of the tail strap as a whole alsoshown on the section plan of Fig. 1. Fig. 4., is a plan of one of thetail straps; and Fig. 5, an elevation showing a modification.

A, indicates a longitudinal sill of the car and B, the end sill; F, oneof two parallel timbers extending along below the sills A; D, D, theheads which take up the thrusts of the draw bar and transmit themthrough the timbers A and F to the car framing, the timbers F, heads D,and straps E, being secured together by bolts as indicated at G, G, G,G, &c. H, H, are followers, the flanged heads of which are normally heldagainst the parts D, of the heads D by powerful springs as indicated atI 5 O, is the draw-bar which rests at its inner end directly orindirectly against the front end of follower H. This draw bar is firmlysecured to two longitudinally movable bars or tail straps J, J as bybolts or rivets K, K, the front ends of the straps being preferablyhooked as shown at J to assist in grasping the draw bar. The straps Jpass back through grooves formed in the heads D and to their rear endsis secured a steel block or plate M which rests against the rear of thefollower H. To the extent above described the draft rigging shown is theGraham rigging and as these elements are well known in this and severalsimilar forms it is unnecessary for me to describe them more in detail.

Now the difliculty which my invention is intended to overcome lies inproperly securing the block M in place at the end of the tail straps. Itis as shown engaged by shoulders J 2 at the rear of the straps and byholding the straps together by means of a bolt the block M is securelyheld in place,but the difficulty is to introduce abolt in the contractedposition occupied by the ends of the straps and this difficulty Iovercome by forming through the ends of the straps J in the rear oftheir shoulders J perforations J considerably larger than the bolt shankto be used and by forming slots J 4 through the extreme ends of thestraps leading to the perforations J 3 and of a breadth slightly greaterthan the bolt. Owing to this construction a bolt L can be readilyinserted through slots J 4 into the perforations J and to secure thebolt in place I provide a longitudinally adjustable bolt holding deviceof greater diameter than the breadth of slots J which will surround thebolt and nearly fill the perforations J This bolt holding device can beeither formed as a part of the bolt or as a separate sleeve. Mypreferred construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is to employ a sleeve ofpipe section indicated at L this sleeve being slipped over the bolt intothe perforations J 3 and held in place by the nut L the head L of thebolt resting on the upper strap,'but instead of a separate sleeve thebolt may be formed or provided with rings L L as shown in Fig. 5; thebolt being inserted through slots J 4 into the perforations J and thenmoved longitudinally downward to seat the rings L in the perforations,the nut L holding the bolt and its rings in place as before.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a draft rigging, tail straps J perforated to receive a bolt at Jand having a slot J 4 of less breadth than the perforation leadingthrough their ends into said perforation substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. In a draft rigging, tail straps J perforated to receive a bolt at J 3and having a slot J 4 of less breadth than the perforation leadingthrough their ends into said perforation [0 ing through their ends intosaid perforation in combination with a bolt the shank of which is ofless diameter than the breadth of slot J 4 and a sleeve L of greaterdiameter than the breadth of slot J 4 said sleeve being adjustable alongthe bolt substantially as and for the :5

purpose specified.

GEORGE L." POTTER.

- Witnesses:

THOS. MEEGAN, F. R. WELDoN.

